Call for help in Portugal fires

The Civil Protection Department is prepared to give any support it can from its resources to Portugal in one of that country's worst fire-disasters, CPD head Peter Cordina said.

The EU has intervened to help bring the massive fires affecting the northern and central regions of Portugal under control. Last Sunday, France, Germany, Italy and Spain responded to Lisbon's call for EU help in battling the fires that have burnt down at least 134,500 hectares of forest.

Malta was also called upon to help but Mr Cordina said Portugal's request has so far been only for fire-fighting aircraft that are not available here. According to the EU, the French government is lending Portugal two fire-fighting planes and Germany yesterday sent three helicopters. Spain, which has experienced suffering severe forest fires, has promised two planes, and Italy has sent an aircraft. Around 3,000 fire fighters, soldiers and police are tackling more than 20 fires. At least 13 people have died in the fires, intensified by the worst drought on record in Portugal.